Curt Cignetti has turned around the Indiana Hoosiers, and he could now look at NFL opportunities.
Cignetti has taken the college football world by storm as he took over Indiana last season and led them to the playoffs. This year, the Hoosiers are undefeated and are in the College Football Playoff semifinals and are the favorites to win it all.
If Indiana wins it all, perhaps that could entice Cignetti to pursue NFL opportunities, and insider Tony Rizzo of ESPN Cleveland believes the Browns should be all over him.
“You know who I want to coach the Browns? I’d take Curt Cignetti right now,” Rizzo said on ESPN Cleveland. “What a culture changer. Here is what you need for the Browns’ next coach. Number one, ass-kicker, passive Stefanski didn’t work.
“Number two, proven winner. Done. Number three, culture changer. If that guy wins a national championship at Indiana, I will go to Indiana and pick him up.”
Whether or not Cignetti would actually consider NFL jobs is to be seen. But if he does win the national championship at Indiana this season, in his second year on the job, there wouldn’t be much left for him to prove at college.
Cignetti has also won everywhere he’s been, so getting the chance to try and win a Super Bowl would be the final step in his legendary college career.
Cignetti Signed Extension With Indiana
A potential hurdle in the Browns’ hiring Cignetti is the fact that he just signed an extension.
Back in October, Cignetti inked an eight-year contract, $93 million deal with the Hoosiers in October. The deal pays him $11.6 million per season. His buyout is $15 million now, which could complicate things.
“I couldn’t be more proud to be a Hoosier, and I plan on retiring as a Hoosier,” Cignetti said in a statement. “The way that this state has embraced us and our success in football has meant more to me than anything else.”
However, following the Hoosiers’ win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl, it triggered a bonus and a potential new deal. Cignetti’s extension included a “good faith market review,” meaning his contract calls for a review and negotiation within 120 days if the team appears in a CFP semifinal playoff game, which Indiana did.
Cignetti was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2024.
Browns Likely to Move on From Stefanski
Cleveland could need a new head coach in 2026.
ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano believes the Browns will look to fire or potentially trade Stefanski this offseason.
“If the Browns are of a mind to make a move, is it possible they could look to work out a trade that sends Stefanski elsewhere, since he has years left on his deal? I’m just trying to spitball out-of-the-ordinary scenarios here,” Graziano wrote.
Stefanski signed a contract extension with the Browns in June of 2024, but the terms of the deal weren’t announced.
As the head coach of the Browns, Stefanski is 44-56. He led the team to the playoffs twice in his six-year tenure.
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